About Us

FAQ

Who are The Contemporary Fencing Company?

We are a mixture of designer and artisan. We are not a giant faceless company. We listen to our clients and believe that with a combination of careful consideration, creativity and quality craftsmanship we can create. Products that look beautiful and stand the test of time. You can find out more about how we work here.

Who makes the products?

All products are handmade by our own craftsmen in Whitstable-based Joinery Workshop. The Directors of the company design every single product and are fully involved in all aspects of day-to-day running of the business.

How far do you do work?

We supply our fencing across the whole of the UK.

What wood is used in your fences?

At The Contemporary Fencing Company, we only ever use Western Red Cedar. This highly sought-after timber grows to up to 60 meters tall and originates from the US and Canada, although today it is also widely grown in Europe.

Its natural colour variation, ranging from reddish to pinkish browns, often streaked with lighter tones, makes is very attractive for fences. Western Red Cedar also has unique rot resistance properties and so is very durable when used outdoors. This durability comes from the natural oils and tannins within the timber making it a perfect choice for garden products. Find our more about why we use cedar here.

Is Western Red Cedar expensive?

The unique properties and beauty of Western Red Cedar is highly sought-after and so it does cost more than some other types of wood. We feel that this is warranted though, as cedar will last much longer outdoors and need little or no maintenance. All our products are guaranteed for 20 years but they will last far longer.

Is your timber from a sustainable source?

Our timber is purchased from UK-based company who are a EUTR Responsible Purchaser. All of the Western Red Cedar we use is from a sustainable source and has PEFC certification.

What is PEFC certification?

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) through independent third-party certification.

Allowing your fencing to naturally age

Many people prefer to allow their cedar fencing to naturally age outdoors without any finish at all. If you choose to do this, over time the colour will weather to a handsome silver-grey highlighted by darker streaks, and the grain of the wood will become slightly raised. It is perfectly ok to allow this process to happen and the integrity and durability of the wood will not be damaged.

If you are interested in how to protect, stain and maintain your fencing, you can read our blog here.

Protecting the colour of your fencing.

Cedar, when it is new, has a high moisture content and the surface of the wood has a mill glaze that prevents stains from adhering properly.

We recomend that the wood is treated with Seaonite. This product protects the wood while it naturally weathers, it also helps to reduce silvering and stabilises the wood.

After around 12 months has passed, the cedar will have aged sufficiently and it can then be cleaned with a product called Netrol that will restore the bright cedar colour and remove any dirt.

A stain can then be applied to enhance and protect the cedar colour, giving a long lasting finsh to your fencing. We recommend that you use Aquadecks from Owatrol (Honey Colour) for this.

Professional fence cleaning and treating service.

Did you know that we offer a full aftercare service to all of our clients? We'll clean and treat your fencing professionally, with the minimum of fuss, whenever you require it. Please contact us for a quote.

If you'd prefer to treat the fence yourself, we can provide you with professional stains and cleaning agents at competitive prices.

Can you see through the gaps in the fencing?

Our slatted panels have a 7mm gap between each batten. This allows light into the garden and provides a shadow line between each piece of cedar, which showcases the attractive colour variation in the cedar panel.

Although it is true that if you stand close to the fence panel and look through the gap, you can see through. However, when you're a reasonable distance from the fence, the gaps are hardly noticeable and there is sufficient privacy.

We chose a 7mm gap as it’s the smallest gap we make and it gives the most privacy. Square-edged battens offer more privacy than bevel-edged battens, which allow more light in due to the angle of the front edge on the slat.

Are many chemicals used on the wood?

Western Red Cedar has natural preservative oil within it that eliminates the need for further chemical treatments since it acts as natural preservative to help the wood resist rot and decay. This makes it the perfect material to construct quality fencing.

Bespoke width panels

It will always look better if all the panels are the same size on your fence -- having half a panel at the end of the run can spoil the overall aesthetic. That's why we offer a free service to cut your panels to exactly the size you need.

It will cost you the same to have seven equal-sized panels made as it does to have six-and-a-half standard ones. Simply let us know the length of your fence run and we will make them to fit. Best of all, it’s completely free!

Are your products guaranteed?

All our cedar garden products are guaranteed for twenty years. Please get in touch to find out more.